Australia has a Security Council seat — and is well-placed to show some leadership on North Korea. We used to be creative and front-footed on diplomacy, political commentator and retired diplomat Bruce Haigh argues. So let’s lift the ambition.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has suffered cut after cut in staff and funding. Australia’s foreign service is in shambles, argues Lowy Institute for International Policy research fellow Alex Oliver.

The missile launch by North Korea yesterday — despite claiming it was a weather satellite — is another provocative strike against the West, writes Deakin University international relations lecturer Dr Danielle Chubb.

Governor General Quentin Bryce made an expensive trek to Africa earlier this year in an effort to help Australia score a seat on the UN Security Council — paying out $300,000 to Government officials and $64,000 on food, accommodation and gifts, according to the Daily Tele.